Belts for clothing and methods of use

ABSTRACT

A half-belt for clothing, such as a pair of pants, that includes a first belt part having two ends, and a second belt part having two ends. The first end of each of the belt parts are detachably connectable to one another, and the second end of each of the belt parts includes a connector for attachment to a garment or includes a belt loop attachment device attachable to respective belt loops of a garment wearable by a user. During use, the half-belt is fed through only two or four belt loops of the pair of pants and is secured at its two ends. In a different configuration, the half-bent is a one-piece device that extends through less than all of the belt loops on a garment and secured so that the garment is secured without providing a belt or other device completely around the waist of the garment wearer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to belts for use with clothing. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to “half-belts” for use onpants and other garments as herein described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As set out in further detail below, the present invention entails, inaccordance with certain embodiments, a half-belt for clothing, such as apair of pants, that includes a first belt part having two ends, and asecond belt part having two ends. The first end of each of the beltparts are detachably connectable to one another (e.g., have a buckletype connection), and the second end of each of the belt parts hassuitable attachment means for attaching to respective complementaryattachment means on a garment wearable by a user.

In one embodiment, the attachment means of each of the first and secondbelt parts is an opening or aperture designed to attach to respectivebuttons that are coupled to the garment wearable by the user.

In another embodiment, the attachment means of each of the first andsecond belt parts is a snap type connector designed to attach torespective connectors coupled to the garment wearable by the user.

In a further embodiment, the invention comprises the combination of aclothing garment having a waist portion, the waist portion includingfirst and second complementary attachment means each for receiving arespective attachment means; and the above-summarized half-belt coupledto the clothing garment using the complementary attachment means.

The present invention further entails, in accordance with anotherembodiment, a half-belt for clothing, such as a pair of pants, thatincludes a first belt part having two ends, and a second belt parthaving two ends. The first end of each of the belt parts are detachablyconnectable to one another, and the second end of each of the belt partsincludes a belt loop attachment device that is attachable to respectivebelt loops of a garment wearable by a user.

As an aspect of this embodiment and other embodiments, the first andsecond belt parts have a buckle-type connection mechanism.

As another aspect of the present invention, the second end of each ofthe belt parts is an alligator-type clip connector.

As a further aspect of the present invention, the second end of each ofthe belt parts is a hook. As yet another aspect, the second end of eachbelt part is a hook and loop type connector.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present invention, thebelt is for use on a garment that has multiple belt loops disposedaround a waist portion of the garment, and the second end of the firstbelt part is attached to a first of the belt loops of the garment, andthe second end of the second belt part is attached to a second beltloop.

As an aspect of the present invention, the first and second belt loopsof the garment, to which the belt is attached, are disposed closest to afront center of the garment.

As another aspect, the garment is a pair of pants.

As a further aspect, the belt is disposed only partially around thewaist portion of the garment.

In accordance with further embodiments of the present invention, a beltthat has an elongated portion and first and second ends extending fromthe elongated portion extends through at least two, but fewer than all,of the belt loops of a garment and is closable by connecting the twoends of the belt together in such configuration.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the present inventionwill become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art fromthe following detailed description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description, given by way of example and notintended to limit the present invention solely thereto, will best beappreciated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals denote like elements and parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of the half-belt of the presentinvention in accordance with a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a pair of pants with the half-beltshown in FIG. 1, shown in a partially detached configuration;

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of the half-belt of the presentinvention in accordance with a second embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a pair of pants with the half-beltshown in FIG. 3, shown in a partially detached configuration;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of the half-belt of the presentinvention in accordance with a third embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the half-belt of the presentinvention in accordance with a fourth embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a pair of pants with the half-beltshown in FIG. 5, shown in a partially detached configuration;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a pair of pants with the half-beltshown in FIG. 5, shown in an attached configuration;

FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a belt usable in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of how the belt shown in FIG. 9 isused with a pair of pants in accordance with said another embodiment ofthe present invention, shown in a partially detached configuration; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of how the belt shown in FIG. 9 isused with a pair of pants in accordance with said another embodiment ofthe present invention, shown in an attached configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention pertains to unique half-belts, also called ponybelts herein, as well as a unique manner of using such belts with a pairof pants or other garment in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the figures and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, there isshown a half-belt 10 in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention. The half-belt 10 shown (or pony belt 10) is comprisedof two primary components 20 and 30. For convenience, belt components 20and 30 are also called herein belt parts or belt halves 20 and 30. Eachbelt part 20 and 30 is made of any material suitable for clothing belts,including leather, cotton, plastic, etc. Non-common materials may alsobe used.

Each belt part 20 and 30 includes two ends. Belt part 20 includes afirst end 22 and a second end 24, with an elongated section 26 coupledto and extending between ends 22 and 24. Similarly, belt part 30includes a first end 32 and a second end 34, with an elongated section36 coupled to and extending between ends 32 and 34.

Each of the first ends 22 and 32 include complementary types ofconnector designs so that end 22 of the belt part 20 may be easilyconnected to and detached from end 32 of the belt part 30. As shown inFIG. 1, first end 32 is a standard buckle and first end 22 includes anumber of holes so that belt part 20 may be held by the buckle at adesired position. Since the particular operation of such a buckle iswell known, a detailed discussion thereof is omitted herein.

The present invention is not limited to the specific buckle design shownin FIG. 1 (or the other figures herein). For example, other buckledesigns may be employed (e.g., clip buckles, snap buckles, etc.) and,further, non-buckle attachment mechanisms may be employed in place ofthe structural designs shown as elements 22 and 32 of FIG. 1, inaccordance with the present invention. In addition, the presentinvention is not limited to any particular style of connector (e.g.,buckle) or any particular shape, width, color, etc.

In accordance with the present invention, each of the seconds ends 24and 34 of the two belt parts 20 and 30 (also called pants attachmentends) have apertures or openings 25 and 35 for attaching such secondends to a pair of pants or other garment as further described withreference to FIG. 2. Turning now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, FIG. 2 showshow half-belt 10 of the present invention is attached to a pair ofpants. In this embodiment, pants 40, such as shown in FIG. 2, includes apair of buttons 46 and 48 located in the vicinity of respective beltloops 42 and 44. Accordingly, belt part 20 is coupled to pants 40 bypushing or otherwise manipulating button 46 on the pants throughaperture 25 on belt part 20. Moreover, belt part 20 is fed through thepants belt loop 42 either before or after connecting button 46 throughaperture 25, as appropriate. Similarly, belt part 30 is coupled to pants40 by manipulating button 48 through aperture 34 of belt part 30. FIG. 2shows belt part 30 coupled to pants 40 in this manner and also with beltpart 30 fed through the pants' belt loop 44. Then, the other ends ofeach of the belt parts 20 and 30 are connected together in the knownmanner (e.g., see buckle connection in FIG. 8).

FIGS. 3 and 4 schematically show a second embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 3 shows a half-belt 50 that is identical to half-belt 10shown in FIG. 1 except half-belt 50 includes a different type of pantsattachment end on each part of the half-belt. In particular, each partincludes a “snap” type connector 62 and 72, often called a snap buttonor jean button or snap fastener. In this embodiment, the garment, for,example, the pair of pants 80 shown in FIG. 4, includes a correspondingpair of connectors 82 (other connector not visible in FIG. 4) thatreceive snap connectors 62 and 72. Except for the type of connection andthe manner of connecting and disconnecting such connection, theinstallation and use of half-belt 50 shown in FIG. 3 is highly similarto that of half-belt 10 shown in FIG. 1.

In connection with the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4of the drawings, it is appreciated that other types of correspondingconnectors can be employed by the half-belt and the pair of pants. Forexample, hook and loop type connectors (e.g., Velcro®) may be employedwhere the complementary parts of the hook and loop type connector areprovided on the half-belt and garment. Other types of connectors havecomplementary attachment components may also be employed.

FIGS. 5 through 8 show embodiments of the present invention that do notrequire a separate connection component on the garment, wherein thehalf-belt in each embodiment is coupled to the garment via the garment'sbelt loops.

FIG. 5 shows a half-belt 100 in accordance with yet a further embodimentof the present invention. Similar to the half-belts shown in thepreviously discussed embodiments, half-belt 100 includes belt parts 120and 130. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, each belt part 120 and 130includes at one end alligator-type clips 124 and 134. Turning to FIG. 6,this figure shows yet another embodiment in which half-belt 100Aincludes a pair of hooks 124A and 134A at one end of each of the twoparts of half-belt 100A.

During use of half-belt 100 shown in FIG. 5, half-belt 100 is coupled toa pair of pants 140 (or other suitable garment) in the manner shown inFIG. 7. In particular, each part 120 and 130 of half-belt 100 is coupledto a respective belt look 142 and 144 of the garment using thealligator-type clips 124 and 134, such as shown in the partially openconfiguration shown in FIG. 7. After such coupling, the half-belt isfully closed, such as shown in FIG. 8.

Returning to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, hooks 124A and 134A ofhalf-belt 100A are placed around respective belt loops on a garment andthen the two halves of the half-belt are coupled together to fullysecure the half-belt to the garment.

In connection with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 5-8, it is noted thatadditional embodiments and variations are possible. For example, othertypes of attachments devices may be employed (e.g., in place of clips124 and 134 shown in FIG. 5) including snaps, buttons, hook and looptype connectors (e.g., Velcro®), etc., wherein the correspondingcomponents of such types of connectors are included within each beltpart (e.g., belt parts 120 and 130) and, in such case, each belt partloops around a respective belt loop on a garment and then attaches toitself.

As would be appreciated from the description herein, the half-belt ofthe present invention in each of the embodiments and variationsdescribed above does not fully encompass the waist of the pants' wearer,but instead extends only partially around the pair of pants. In cases ofwhen the two parts of the half-belt are attached in the vicinity of thefront belt loops on the garment (e.g., see FIGS. 2 and 4) or to suchloops themselves (e.g., see FIGS. 7 and 8), or are attached to thegarment in the vicinity of the next set of belt loops as well as to suchloops themselves (e.g., to loops 152 and 154 shown in FIG. 7), thehalf-belt extends approximately from only 20% to 50% around the waist ofthe wearer. In any of these situations, no part of the half-belt of thepresent invention appears in the rear of the pair of pants (or of theperson himself). If the loops closest to the front center are employedor the connectors are near such loops, then no part of the half-belt ofthe present invention appears on the sides or rear of the wearer.

As illustrated at least in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 of the drawings, and aswould be appreciated from the description herein, the appearance of thevarious embodiments described above of the half-belt of the presentinvention when being worn is significantly different from the appearanceof standard belts. In addition, the manner in which the half-belt of thepresent invention is put on is significantly different from the mannerstandard belts are put on. Typically, a pair of pants has anywhere frombetween 4 to 6 belt loops and a standard belt must be placed through allof those belt loops before it can be closed. Such activity iscumbersome, particularly for children and certain adults, and timeconsuming. The present invention, on the other hand, provides a type ofbelt that may be quickly and easily used, as herein described.

The half-belt of the present invention may also be used with other typesof garments and be used by men, women, boys and girls. For example,skirts, skorts and other garments may include the above-describedattachment devices (e.g., buttons 46 and 48 shown in FIG. 2; orconnector 82 shown in FIG. 4) and/or may include suitable belt-typeloops so that one or more embodiments of the half-belt of the inventionas described above may be easily utilized. Accordingly, the presentinvention is not limited to usage on pants, but may be used with otherappropriate items of clothing.

Referring now to FIG. 9 of the drawings, a “half-belt” 200 in accordancewith another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Half-belt 200includes ends 202 and 204 that are designed to attach to one another andmay include a buckle design, such as shown in FIG. 9. Other attachmentmechanisms may be employed for ends 202 and 204. An elongated component206 is coupled to and extends between ends 202 and 204.

In accordance with the present invention, half-belt 200 is used in anovel manner as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the drawings. Half-belt 200is placed only through two belt loops 212 and 214 of a pair of pants 210as shown in FIG. 10. Then, ends 202 and 204 are attached to secure thebelt. Half-belt 200 has a length that is suitably short (relative to thelength of a standard belt) and suitably sized so that the belt's twoends can be connected and provide reasonable support to the wearer. Itis noted that although half-belt 200 appears to have a structure similaror identical to prior art belts, its manner of use is distinctlydifferent than how standard belts are used.

In accordance with a variation of the half-belt 200 shown in FIG. 9, thebelt contains two parts within the elongated portion 206, located atareas that extend through pants loops when in use, that are designed tobe completely foldable so that the belt lies completely or nearlycompletely flat when worn. That is, portions of the belt that extendthrough the loop can be folded relatively easily so that the belt whenworn has the appearance shown in FIG. 11. Thus, it is possible for mostof the belt to be relatively thick (e.g., thick leather) with otherportions of the belt that extend through the loops being relatively thinso that the belt easily lies onto itself when used with a pair of pants.

Similar to the earlier described embodiments (e.g., see FIGS. 2, 7, 8),the manner in which half-belt 200 is used provides an appearance that isdistinctly different from standard belts. Moreover, the presentinvention entails only feeding half-belt 200 through two belt loopsbefore it is closed. In a variation, half-belt 200 is appropriatelysized so that it can be fed through four (4) (or even three or five)belt loops and then closed. In any event, both the appearance andinstallation of half-belt 200 in accordance with such describedembodiment of the present invention is distinctly different from theappearance and installation of standard belts. Moreover, half-belt 200may be used in the manner as described herein on other garments thatinclude belt loops, such as skirts and skorts.

Having described the present invention including various features andvariations thereof, it is intended that the appended claims beinterpreted as including the embodiments described herein, thealternatives mentioned above, and all equivalents thereto.

1. A clothing belt, comprising: a first belt part having first andsecond ends; and a second belt part having first and second ends, thefirst end of each of the first and second belt parts being detachablyconnectable to one another, and the second end of each of the first andsecond belt parts having attachment means for attaching to respectivecomplementary attachment means of a garment wearable by a user.
 2. Theclothing belt of claim 1, wherein the first end of each of the first andsecond belt parts have a buckle-type connection mechanism.
 3. Theclothing belt of claim 1, wherein the attachment means of each of thefirst and second belt parts is an aperture adapted to attach torespective buttons coupled to the garment wearable by the user.
 4. Theclothing belt of claim 1, wherein the attachment means of each of thefirst and second belt parts is a snap type connector adapted to attachto respective connectors coupled to the garment wearable by the user. 5.The clothing belt of claim 1, wherein the attachment means of each ofthe first and second belt parts is an aperture adapted to attach torespective buttons coupled to the garment wearable by the user.
 6. Acombination, comprising: a clothing garment having a waist portion, thewaist portion including first and second complementary attachment meanseach for receiving a respective attachment means; the clothing belt ofclaim 1, wherein the attachment means of the second end of the firstbelt part is attached to the first complementary attachment means of theclothing garment, and the attachment means of the second end of thesecond belt part is attached to the second complementary attachmentmeans of the clothing garment.
 7. The combination of claim 6, whereinthe attachment means of each of the first and second belt parts is anaperture; and the first and second complementary attachment means of thegarment are buttons coupled to the aperture of the first and second beltparts.
 8. The combination of claim 6, wherein the attachment means ofeach of the first and second belt parts is a snap type connector; andthe first and second complementary attachment means of the garment areconnectors coupled the snap type connectors of the first and second beltparts.
 9. A clothing belt, comprising: a first belt part having firstand second ends; and a second belt part having first and second ends,the first end of each of the first and second belt parts beingdetachably connectable to one another, and the second end of each of thefirst and second belt parts having a belt loop attachment deviceattachable to respective belt loops of a garment wearable by a user. 10.The clothing belt of claim 9, wherein the first end of each of the firstand second belt parts have a buckle-type connection mechanism.
 11. Theclothing belt of claim 9, wherein the second end of each of the firstand second belt parts is an alligator-type clip connector.
 12. Theclothing belt of claim 9, wherein the second end of each of the firstand second belt parts is a hook.
 13. A combination, comprising: aclothing garment having a plurality of belt loops disposed around awaist portion of the clothing garment; and the clothing belt of claim 9,wherein the second end of the first belt part is attached to a first ofthe belt loops of the clothing garment, and the second end of the secondbelt part is attached to a second of the belt loops of the clothinggarment.
 14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said first and secondbelt loops of the clothing garment are, amongst all of the belt loops,disposed closest to a front center of the clothing garment.
 15. Thecombination of claim 13, wherein said clothing garment is a pair ofpants.
 16. The combination of claim 13, wherein the clothing belt isdisposed only partially around the waist portion of the clothinggarment.
 17. A combination, comprising: a clothing garment having aplurality of belt loops disposed around a waist portion of the clothinggarment; and a belt having an elongated portion and first and secondends extending from the elongated portion, the first and second endsdetachably connectable to one another, wherein the elongated portion ofthe belt extends through at least two, but fewer than all, of the beltloops of the clothing garment.
 18. The combination of claim 17, whereinthe elongated portion of the belt extends through only two of the beltloops of the clothing garment.
 19. The combination of claim 17, whereinthe elongated portion of the belt extends through only four of the beltloops of the clothing garment.
 20. The combination of claim 17, whereinthe belt includes portions disposed in vicinities of the belt loopsthrough which the belt extends that are thinner or weaker than the restof the belt to enable the belt to lie substantially flat against theclothing garment.